12 removed from National Guard
The members have been removed from securing the inauguration after vetting by the FBI.
WASHINGTON — Twelve U.S. National Guard members have been removed from securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after vetting by the FBI, including two who made extremist statements in posts or texts about the Wednesday event, Pentagon officials said.
There were no specific threats to Biden.
Two U.S. officials said all 12 were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or posted extremist views online.
The officials, a senior intelligence official and an Army official briefed on the matter, did not say which fringe groups the Guard members belonged to or what unit they served in. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The officials said they had all been removed because of “security liabilities.”
Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard, confirmed that Guard members had been removed and sent home, but he said only two were for inappropriate comments or texts related to the inauguration. The other 10 were for other potential issues that may involve previous criminal activity or activities, but not directly related to the inaugural event.
Their removal from the massive security presence at the nation’s capital comes as U.S. defense officials have been worried about a potential insider attack or other threat from service members following the deadly riot by Trump supporters Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.
The FBI has worked to vet all 25,000 National Guard in town. The FBI has warned about the possibility that right-wing fringe groups could pose as members of the National Guard, according to two law enforcement officials.